Fluid impeller for bioprocessing

ABSTRACT

Fluid impellers for biocontainers, and bioprocessing units including the impellers and biocontainers, and methods of using the impellers, are disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The preparation of fluids, particularly solutions and suspensions in thepharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, typically involvesthorough mixing to provide the desired distribution of ingredients inthe product. Many mixing operations are carried out in bioreactor bagswith a mixing impeller mounted near the base of the vessel. A variety ofimpellers with different size impeller hubs, impeller blades and/orblade configurations can be used for mixing.

However, there is a need for improved impellers and bioreactor bagsincluding impellers.

The present invention provides for ameliorating at least some of thedisadvantages of the prior art. These and other advantages of thepresent invention will be apparent from the description as set forthbelow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an impellerfor a biocontainer comprises (a) a hub including a top end and a bottomend, and at least first and second impeller arm slots arrangedvertically and extending from the top end toward the bottom end; (b) atleast first and second impeller blades extending from the hub, eachimpeller blade comprising a blade face, an arm having a first end and asecond end and a notch between the first end and the second end, whereinthe first end is adjacent the blade face, and the second end extendsinto an impeller slot, the arm being engaged in the slot, and whereinthe second end of the first impeller blade arm engages with the notch ofanother impeller blade arm.

In another embodiment a bioprocessing unit is provided comprising abioreactor bag (biocontainer) and an agitator comprising the impellercomprising the hub and impeller blades, and a housing assembly, as wellas a rotatable shaft comprising a cylindrical element having a first endand a second end, the shaft having a vertical rotational axis, the shaftpassing through the bottom wall of the biocontainer such that the secondend extends exterior to the bottom wall; the hub mounted on the firstend of the rotatable shaft, the hub including a top end and a bottom endand at least first and second impeller arm slots arranged vertically andextending from the top end toward the bottom end; wherein the housingassembly is coupled to the bottom wall of the biocontainer, the housingassembly sealingly supporting the rotatable shaft, wherein the secondend of the shaft passes through the housing assembly.

A method of preparing a mixed fluid used in bioprocessing according toanother embodiment of the invention method comprises (a) passing atleast one fluid and at least one component to be mixed with the fluidthrough at least one port into a biocontainer comprising a closedcontainer having an interior volume, the container comprising a bottomwall, a top wall, at least one wall, the side wall(s) being joined tothe top wall and the bottom wall; and at least the inlet port, and adrain port, the drain port being arranged in the bottom wall, whereinthe biocontainer further comprises the agitator; and, (b) rotating theimpeller, and mixing the at least one fluid and the at least onecomponent to be mixed with the fluid, and producing the mixed fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an impeller comprising a hub and 3 impellerblades according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein theblades are engaged in slots in the hub, and the blades each have faces,arms and notches, and an end of one impeller blade arm engages with anotch of another impeller blade arm.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the impeller shown in FIG. 1 (theillustrated hub including bolts or rivets passing through the bladesfurther holding the blades in position), and FIG. 2B shows a partiallyexploded view with 2 of the impeller blades removed.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the impeller blade shown in FIG. 2, alsoshowing an impeller blade arm having a notch having an angle of 120°.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show, respectively, exploded bottom perspective, and topperspective, views of a hub and a shaft for driving (rotating) the hub.FIG. 4C shows a top view of the hub, wherein the slot has three slots(each slot for receiving an impeller blade), each slot positioned at a120° angle around the center of the hub. FIG. 4D shows a partialcross-sectional view of a impeller blade, as well as the hub and shaft.FIG. 4E shows a cross-section view of an impeller housing assemblyincluding the shaft.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show, diagrammatically, 4 impeller blades wherein theend of one impeller blade arm engages with a notch of another impellerblade arm. FIG. 5A shows 4 identical blades, and FIG. 5B shows 2different blades, wherein the blades within a pair are identical.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show an impeller comprising 3 impeller blades accordingto another embodiment of the invention, the impeller further comprisinga hub cap that engages with the hub and further holds the blades inposition. FIG. 6A shows a cap including pegs that can be “snap fit” intoreceiving holes the hub, and FIG. 6B shows a cap with a tab that can bewelded into a groove present in the hub and the blades.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a bioprocessing unit comprising abiocontainer and the impeller shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an impellerfor a biocontainer comprises (a) a hub including a top end and a bottomend, and at least first and second impeller arm slots arrangedvertically and extending from the top end toward the bottom end; (b) atleast first and second impeller blades extending from the hub, eachimpeller blade comprising a blade face, an arm having a first end and asecond end and a notch between the first end and the second end, whereinthe first end is adjacent to the blade face, and the second end extendsinto an impeller slot, the arm being engaged in the slot, and whereinthe second end of the first impeller blade arm engages with the notch ofanother impeller blade arm.

In an embodiment, the hub includes a third impeller arm slot arrangedvertically, the impeller further comprising a third impeller bladecomprising a blade face, an arm having first end and a second end and anotch between the first end and the second end, extending into animpeller slot, the arm being engaged in the slot, wherein the second endof the first impeller blade arm engages with the notch of the thirdimpeller blade arm, the second end of the third impeller blade armengages with the notch of the second impeller blade arm, and the secondend of the second impeller blade arm engages with the notch of the firstimpeller blade arm.

In another embodiment a bioprocessing unit is provided comprising abioreactor bag (biocontainer) and an agitator comprising the impellercomprising the hub and impeller blades, and a housing assembly, as wellas a rotatable shaft comprising a cylindrical element having a first endand a second end, the shaft having a vertical rotational axis, the shaftpassing through the bottom wall of the biocontainer such that the secondend extends exterior to the bottom wall; the hub mounted on the firstend of the rotatable shaft, the hub including a top end and a bottom endand at least first and second impeller arm slots arranged vertically andextending from the top end toward the bottom end; wherein the housingassembly is coupled to the bottom wall of the biocontainer, the housingassembly sealingly supporting the rotatable shaft, wherein the secondend of the shaft passes through the housing assembly.

A bioprocessing unit for use in bioprocessing according to anotherembodiment of the invention comprises (a) a biocontainer comprising aclosed container having an interior volume suitable for containingfluid, the container comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, at least oneside wall, the side wall(s) being joined to the top wall and the bottomwall; and at least an inlet port, and a drain port, the drain port beingarranged in the bottom wall, wherein the biocontainer further comprises(b) a rotatable agitator comprising (i) a rotatable shaft comprising acylindrical element having a first end and a second end, the shafthaving a vertical rotational axis, the shaft passing through the bottomwall of the biocontainer such that the second end extends exterior tothe bottom wall; (ii) an impeller comprising a hub mounted on the firstend of the rotatable shaft, the hub including a top end and a bottom endand at least first and second impeller arm slots arranged vertically andextending from the top end toward the bottom end; (iii) at least firstand second impeller blades extending from the hub, each impeller bladecomprising a blade face, an arm having a first end and a second end anda notch between the first end and the second end, wherein the first endis adjacent to the blade face, and the second end extends into animpeller slot, the arm being engaged in the slot, wherein the second endof one arm engages with the notch of another arm; and (iv) a housingassembly coupled to the bottom wall of the biocontainer, the housingassembly sealingly supporting the rotatable shaft, wherein the secondend of the shaft passes through the housing assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the bioprocessing unit, the impellercomprises a third impeller blade, wherein hub includes a third impellerarm slot arranged vertically, the impeller further comprising the thirdimpeller blade comprising a blade face, an arm having first end and asecond end and a notch between the first end and the second end,extending into an impeller slot, the arm being engaged in the slot,wherein the second end of the first impeller blade arm engages with thenotch of the third impeller blade arm, the second end of the thirdimpeller blade arm engages with the notch of the second impeller bladearm, and the second end of the second impeller blade arm engages withthe notch of the first impeller blade arm.

A method of preparing a mixed fluid used in bioprocessing according toanother embodiment of the invention method comprises (a) passing atleast one fluid and at least one component to be mixed with the fluidthrough at least one port into a biocontainer comprising a closedcontainer having an interior volume, the container comprising a bottomwall, a top wall, at least one side wall, the side wall(s) being joinedto the top wall and the bottom wall; and at least the inlet port, and adrain port, the drain port being arranged in the bottom wall, whereinthe biocontainer further comprises the agitator; and, (b) rotating theimpeller, and mixing the at least one fluid and the at least onecomponent to be mixed with the fluid, and producing the mixed fluid.

Advantageously, the same hub design can be used with a variety ofdifferent blade sizes and configurations (e.g., different blade faceangles), thus reducing cost.

Each of the components of the invention will now be described in moredetail below, wherein like components have like reference numbers.

While embodiments of the impeller have at least two impeller blades, andcan have any number of additional blades, in accordance with theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, the impeller 500 comprises a hub 50 andfirst, second, and third, impeller blades 100, 200, 300, extending fromthe hub. Using FIGS. 1, 2B, and 3 for illustrative reference (FIGS. 2Band 3 showing blade 300, wherein blades 100 and 200 have the samestructure as blade 300), each impeller blade comprises a blade face100A, 200A, 300A, an arm 110, 210, 310, having a first end 101, 201,301, and a second end 102, 202, 302, and a notch 150, 250, 350, betweenthe first and second ends, wherein the first end is adjacent to(illustrated as also connected to) the blade face, and the second endextends into an impeller slot 51, 52, 53, in the hub. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2A and 2B, the hub includes a top end 50A and abottom end 50B, and the impeller slots are vertically arranged,extending from the top end toward the bottom end.

Using the embodiment of the impeller illustrated in FIG. 2B showingblade 300 for reference, each arm includes an extension 115 (blade 100),215 (blade 200), and 315 (blade 300), substantially filling the lengthof the hub slot from the top end toward the bottom end, and in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A and 2B the hub and extensions eachinclude through-holes, e.g., for a rivet or bolt for further securingthe blades to the hub. However, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 4D, theextension can include a leg 320 (e.g., a portion of the extensionincluding the notch) that does not substantially fill the length of thehub slot from the top end toward the bottom end toward the outer edge ofthe hub.

As noted above, the impeller has two or more impeller blades. FIGS. 1,2A, 6A, 6B, and 7 show 3 blades, and FIGS. 5A and 5B show 4 blades. Theangle of the notch in the impeller arm between the first and second endsof the arm is typically 360° divided by the number of blades. Thus, forexample, FIG. 3 (showing an impeller blade for use in a 3 bladeembodiment of the impeller) shows a notch having an angle of 120°.Similarly, the slots in the hub are positioned at equal angles aroundthe center of the hub. Thus, for example, FIG. 4C, showing a hub with 3slots, shows slots positioned at 120° angles around the center of thehub. With respect to the 4 blade embodiments illustrated in FIG. 5A and5B, the angles would preferably be 90°.

Preferably, in those embodiments having 2 impeller blades, or oddnumbers of blades (3, 5, 7, etc.), all of the blades are identical. Forexample, the blades are identical in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1,2A, 5A, 6A, 6B, and 7. However, in those embodiments having even numberof 4 or more blades (4, 6, 8, etc.), 2 different blades can be used,wherein the blades within a pair are identical. For example, theembodiment shown in FIG. 5B shows 2 different blades (“A” and “B”),wherein the blades within a pair (A, A; B, B) are identical.

The impeller blades can otherwise have any suitable configuration. Forexample, while FIG. 2B shows a blade 300 having a face 300A angled atabout 45°, the invention is not so limited.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the hub and theimpeller blade extensions each include through-holes, e.g., for a rivetor bolt for further securing the blades to the hub. However, in otherembodiments, through-holes and/or rivets and/or bolts are not required.For example, in accordance with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6A and6B, the impeller further comprises a hub cap that engages with the topend of the hub and further holds the blades in position. FIG. 6A shows acap 55 including pegs (only one peg 56 is shown) that can be “snap fit”into receiving holes 57 in the hub, and FIG. 6B shows a cap 55A with atab 58 that can be welded into a groove present in the hub 59A and theblades 59B.

Embodiments of impellers according to the invention can be used with avariety of bioreactor bags having different configurations and/orvolumes, wherein, using FIGS. 4A and 4B for general reference, arotatable shaft 60 comprising a cylindrical element having a first end61 and a second end 62, the shaft having a vertical rotational axis,drives (rotates) the impeller, wherein a first end of the shaft isinserted into the hub 50 (located in the interior volume of thebioreactor bag), and the second end of the shaft extends exterior to thebottom wall of the bioreactor, and the second end is attached, directly,or indirectly, to a motor that rotates the shaft.

For example, an agitator can be provided in accordance with anembodiment of the invention, the agitator comprising the impellercomprising the hub and impeller blades, and a housing assembly, as wellas a rotatable shaft comprising a cylindrical element having a first endand a second end, the shaft having a vertical rotational axis, the shaftpassing through a bottom wall of a biocontainer such that the first endextends into the interior volume of the container and the second endextends exterior to the bottom wall; the hub mounted on the first end ofthe rotatable shaft, the hub having a horizontal axis perpendicular tothe vertical rotational axis of the shaft, the hub including a top endand a bottom end and at least first and second impeller arm slotsarranged vertically and extending from the top end toward the bottomend; wherein the housing assembly is couplable to the bottom wall of thebiocontainer, the housing assembly sealingly supporting the rotatableshaft, wherein the second end of the shaft passes through the housingassembly. Typically, the housing assembly comprises a bearing and atleast one seal. As variety of housing assemblies are suitable. FIG. 4Eshows an illustrative housing assembly 600 comprising an upper housingportion 610 comprising an upper portion seal assembly 611, and a lowerhousing portion 620 comprising a lower portion seal assembly 621 (eachseal assembly comprising a central channel, a seal with an annularopening, and a bearing), and a central channel 650 passing through theseal housing assembly and the upper and lower housing portions. FIG. 4Ealso shows the rotatable shaft 60 having a first end 61 and a second end62, in the central channel 650. The housing assembly can be mounted to abioreactor bag via, for example, a locking ring (not shown).

The bioreactor bag (or biocontainer or bioprocessing container), whichis flexible (e.g., plastic), can have any suitable form (e.g.,cylindrical (having, for example, a single continuous side wall),square, or rectangular), and in FIG. 7 is illustrated as having agenerally rectangular cuboid form with a plurality of side walls.

Embodiments of the bioreactor bag can have any suitable number andlocations of ports, for example, one or more of any of the followingports: a liquid inlet port, a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port, apowder inlet port, an acid/base inlet port, a probe port, and/or asample port.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a bioreactor (or bioprocessing unit) 1000comprising a bioreactor bag 900 (biocontainer) comprising a top wall901, a bottom wall 902, and side walls 903A, 903B, 903C, and 903D, adrain port 951, a media inlet port 952, a vent filter connection port953, and an agitator 800 comprising the impeller 500 comprising the hub50 and first, second, and third impeller blades and a housing assembly600, as well as a rotatable shaft 60 comprising a cylindrical elementhaving a first end and a second end, the shaft having a verticalrotational axis, the shaft passing through the bottom wall 902 of thebiocontainer such that the second end extends exterior to the bottomwall; the hub mounted on the first end of the rotatable shaft, the hubhaving a horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical rotational axisof the shaft, the hub including a top end and a bottom end and at leastfirst and second impeller arm slots arranged vertically and extendingfrom the top end toward the bottom end; wherein the housing assembly iscoupled to the bottom wall of the biocontainer, and the housing assemblysealingly supporting the rotatable shaft, wherein the second end of theshaft passes through the housing assembly.

A variety of fluids can be processed and/or prepared (including mixing)in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Applications include,for example, cell culture (e.g., including batch and fed-batchoperations of suspension and adherent cell lines), preparing sterilefluids for the pharmaceutical and/or biopharmaceutical industries,including drugs, vaccines, and intravenous fluids, antibody- and/orprotein-containing fluids, and/or fluids for the food and beverageindustry. Fluids mixed according to embodiments of the invention canalso used, for example, as media and/or buffers such as chromatographybuffers.

For example, a method for preparing a mixed fluid used in bioprocessingcomprises (a) passing at least one fluid and at least one component tobe mixed with the fluid through one or more ports into a biocontainer,and (b) rotating the impeller, and mixing the at least one fluid and theat least one component to be mixed with the fluid, and producing themixed fluid, which can be used as desired.

The following examples further illustrate the invention but, of course,should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” andsimilar referents in the context of describing the invention (especiallyin the context of the following claims) are to be construed to coverboth the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein orclearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one”followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of Aand B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listeditems (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (Aand B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. An impeller for a biocontainer comprising: (a) a hub including a topend and a bottom end, and at least first and second impeller arm slotsarranged vertically and extending from the top end toward the bottomend; (b) at least first and second impeller blades extending from thehub, each impeller blade comprising a blade face, an arm having a firstend and a second end and a notch between the first end and the secondend, wherein the first end is adjacent to the blade face, and the secondend extends into an impeller slot, the arm being engaged in the slot,and wherein the second end of the first impeller blade arm engages withthe notch of another impeller blade arm.
 2. The impeller of claim 1,wherein the hub includes a third impeller arm slot arranged vertically,the impeller further comprising a third impeller blade comprising ablade face, an arm having first end and a second end and a notch betweenthe first end and the second end, extending into an impeller slot, thearm being engaged in the slot, wherein the second end of the firstimpeller blade arm engages with the notch of the third impeller bladearm, the second end of the third impeller blade arm engages with thenotch of the second impeller blade arm, and the second end of the secondimpeller blade arm engages with the notch of the first impeller bladearm.
 3. The impeller of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable shaftcomprising a cylindrical element having a first end and a second end,the shaft having a vertical rotational axis, wherein the hub is mountedon the first end of the rotatable shaft.
 4. The impeller of claim 1,further comprising rivets or bolts fixing the arms to the hub.
 5. Theimpeller of claim 1, further comprising a hub cap engaged with the topend of the hub.
 6. A bioprocessing unit for use in bioprocessingcomprising: (a) a biocontainer comprising a closed container having aninterior volume suitable for containing fluid, the container comprisinga bottom wall, a top wall, at least one side wall, the side wall(s)being joined to the top wall and the bottom wall; and at least an inletport, and a drain port, the drain port being arranged in the bottomwall, wherein the biocontainer further comprises: (b) a rotatableagitator comprising (i) a rotatable shaft comprising a cylindricalelement having a first end and a second end, the shaft having a verticalrotational axis, the shaft passing through the bottom wall of thebiocontainer such that the second end extends exterior to the bottomwall; (ii) an impeller comprising a hub mounted on the first end of therotatable shaft, the hub including a top end and a bottom end and atleast first and second impeller arm slots arranged vertically andextending from the top end toward the bottom end; (iii) at least firstand second impeller blades extending from the hub, each impeller bladecomprising a blade face, an arm having a first end and a second end anda notch between the first end and the second end, wherein the first endis adjacent to the blade face, and the second end extends into animpeller slot, the arm being engaged in the slot, wherein the second endof one arm engages with the notch of another arm; and (iv) a housingassembly coupled to the bottom wall of the biocontainer, the housingassembly sealingly supporting the rotatable shaft, wherein the secondend of the shaft passes through the housing assembly.
 7. Thebioprocessing unit of claim 6, wherein the impeller comprises a thirdimpeller blade, wherein hub includes a third impeller arm slot arrangedvertically, the impeller further comprising the third impeller bladecomprising a blade face, an arm having first end and a second end and anotch between the first end and the second end, extending into animpeller slot, the arm being engaged in the slot, wherein the second endof the first impeller blade arm engages with the notch of the thirdimpeller blade arm, the second end of the third impeller blade armengages with the notch of the second impeller blade arm, and the secondend of the second impeller blade arm engages with the notch of the firstimpeller blade arm.
 8. A method for preparing a mixed fluid used inbioprocessing comprising (a) passing at least one fluid and at least onecomponent to be mixed with the fluid through at least one port into thebiocontainer of the bioprocessing unit of claim 6, and (b) rotating theimpeller, and mixing the at least one fluid and the at least onecomponent to be mixed with the fluid, and producing the mixed fluid. 9.The impeller of claim 2, further comprising a rotatable shaft comprisinga cylindrical element having a first end and a second end, the shafthaving a vertical rotational axis, wherein the hub is mounted on thefirst end of the rotatable shaft.
 10. A method for preparing a mixedfluid used in bioprocessing comprising (a) passing at least one fluidand at least one component to be mixed with the fluid through at leastone port into the biocontainer of the bioprocessing unit of claim 7, and(b) rotating the impeller, and mixing the at least one fluid and the atleast one component to be mixed with the fluid, and producing the mixedfluid.